WHA Awards
Advocacy All-Star Award
Advocacy All-Star Award recognizes one hospital or health care system each year that exemplifies dedication to grassroots advocacy.
Children's Wisconsin
2026 Advocacy All-Star Award
2026 Advocacy All-Star Award
AHA Grassroots Champion Award
The AHA Grassroots Champion Award was created to recognize those hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital and who are tireless advocates for hospitals and their patients.
James Nelson, Fort HealthCare
2026 AHA Grassroots Champion Award
WHA Vice President of Federal Affairs and Advocacy Jon Hoelter presented the award to Nelson at Fort HealthCare on March 25. Nelson has actively participated in numerous important advocacy activities, including regularly attending Capitol Hill visits with WHA, WHA’s annual Advocacy Day and Hospital Education and Advocacy Team (HEAT) Roundtables with state lawmakers.
Health Care Advocate Award
Health Care Advocate Award: presented in recognition of partnership with WHA in supporting issues that enable the delivery of high-quality, high-value health care in Wisconsin.
Romaine Quinn
2025 Health Care Advocate Award
At its annual Advocacy Day on April 9, the Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) named State Senator Romaine Quinn (R–Birchwood) the 2025 Health Care Advocate of the Year for his strong support of hospitals and rural health care. The award, presented by Spooner Health CEO and WHA Board member Mike Schafer, recognized Quinn’s leadership on critical issues, including workforce development, Medicaid reimbursement, and hospital discharge improvements. Representing a district with eight Critical Access Hospitals and serving on the Joint Finance Committee, Quinn has championed legislation to expand Wisconsin’s Graduate Medical Education program and strengthen rural health care infrastructure. Accepting the award, he reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring hospitals have the tools needed to serve their communities.
WHA Distinguished Service Award
WHA Distinguished Service Award honors senior health care executives who have made an exemplary commitment to WHA and the communities they serve.
Edward A. Harding, Aurora Medical Center - Bay Area
2025 WHA Distinguished Service Award
Ed Harding, President and CEO of Aurora Medical Center – Bay Area, received WHA's 2025 Distinguished Service Award for his long-standing and impactful commitment to advancing health care statewide and in their community. WHA President and CEO Kyle O’Brien, joined by former WHA President and CEO Eric Borgerding, presented the award to Harding on Dec. 12 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee. Under Harding’s leadership, Aurora Medical Center – Bay Area has experienced significant growth and success. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a key role in bringing local constituencies together while advocating for staff and patients. Earlier in his tenure, Harding responded to community needs with the construction of the new Marinette hospital in 2014 and provided guidance during Bay Area Medical Center’s acquisition by Aurora Health Care. Beyond the hospital, Harding has remained deeply engaged in the community, serving for many years in the local Rotary and receiving the Paul Harris Award in 2017. He also chairs the board of the Provident Health Foundation, which supports the health and well-being of residents in Marinette and Menominee counties. His leadership has left a lasting impact on the region.
Gordon Lewis, Burnett Medical Center
2025 WHA Distinguished Service Award
Gordy Lewis, retired CEO of Burnett Medical Center, received WHA's 2025 Distinguished Service Award for his long-standing and impactful commitment to advancing health care statewide and in his community. WHA President/CEO Kyle O’Brien and Spooner Health Chief Executive Officer Mike Schafer, presented the award to Lewis on Dec. 23. Among countless advocacy interactions, Gordy’s “shining moment” was hosting Gov. Scott Walker at Burnett Medical Center in Grantsburg to sign into law Wisconsin’s adoption of the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact in 2014. This Compact would streamline licensure burden for physicians from other states to practice in Wisconsin and pave the way for other licensure reforms, including those WHA successfully advocated for during the COVID-19 pandemic, often referred to as Act 10 licenses. Gordy worked closely with his local legislator, State Senator Sheila Harsdorf, to move this legislation forward.
WHA Trustee Award
WHA Trustee Award: honors trustees of WHA member organizations who have made an exemplary commitment to their hospital and to the community they serve.
Maureen Fagan, Hospital Sisters Health System
2025 WHA Trustee Award
Sister Maureen Fagan, HSHS St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center, St. Vincent Hospital, St. Nicholas Hospitals Board of Directors was the recipient of the 2025 WHA Trustee Award
Cynde Larsen, Emplify Health by Gundersen Boscobel
2025 WHA Trustee Award
Cynde Larsen, Emplify Health by Gundersen Boscobel Board of Directors was recipient of the 2025 WHA Trustee Award
